Mechanism for controlling movements of multiple section tables



Dec l, 1964 D. A. HAUNos'r 3,159,114

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING MovEMENTs oF MULTIPLE sEc'rIoN TABLES JMU@fueZ a@ Hal/amaai y @M am *7% 7% Filed Feb. l5, 1965 Dec. 1, 1964 D. A.HAUNosT 3,159,114

MECEANTSM EOE coNTRoLLTNG MovEMENTs 0E MULTIPLE sEcTIoN TABLES lliUnited States Patent O 3,159,114 MECHANISM FR CONTRQLLING MOVEMENTS FMULTIPLE SECTION TABLES Daniel A. Haunost, Chicago, Ill., assignor toMidwest Folding Products Mfg. Corp., a corporation of Illinois FiledFeb. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 258,859

v 6 Claims. 4(Cl. 10S-38) This invention is concerned with an improvedfolding table arrangement of the type adapted for storage within arecess provided in a Wall mounted cabinet. More particularly, theinvention is concerned with a folding table having facilities engageablein vertical tracks provided at opposite sides of its mounting recess tocontrol folding movement of the table from a coplanar, generallyhorizontal extended relation to a vertically overlapping side-by-sidefolded relation.

Tables of this general type are well known and serve an importantfunction in multiple purpose rooms but in most instances the mechanismrequired for controlling table folding movement is complicated andbulky, thus making the table unduly heavy, diflicult to handle, and alsomaking the table expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providea simplified mechanism for controlling folding movement of a multiplesection folding table.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simplifiedlow-cost mechanism providing a positive mechanical connection betweenfoldable table sections to acheive equiangular swinging movement of eachsection and concurrently to maintain its foldable legs orientedvertically at all positions of the table folding movement.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a light-weightpositive-acting folding table arrangement that is easily movable betweenits folded and unfolded positions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a folding table associatedwith a cabinet providing a Vertical storage recess, with the table beingshown in coplanar horizontally extended unfolded position; j

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 with thetable shown in elevation and with the cabinet shown recessed within awall and sectioned to illustrate its relationship to the table;

FIG. 3 is a side view like that of FIG. 2 and illustrating the table atan intermediate position during its folding movement FIG. 4 is anotherside view corresponding to that of FIG. 2 and illustrating the table infully folded nested relation within the storage recess of its mountingcabinet;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a novel hingementstructure for pivotally connecting adjacent ends of the folding tablesections when the table sections are disposed in coplanar extendedposition; j

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 5 and shows the hingementstructure when the table sections are in vertically overlappingsideeby-side relation; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan View partially in section and is taken asindicated on the line 7 7 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a folding table is designated generallyat 10 and is shown associated with a cabinet 11 providing a verticalstorage recess 11R for receiving the table when it is in foldedposition. The cabinet 11 preferably is recessed within a vertical wall Wof a building and it has vertical side walls providing 3,159,114Patented Dec. l, 1964 p ICC opposed generally vertical guide tracks Tfor regulating the folding movement of the table 10.

The foldable table 10 includes a pair of table top sections 13 and 14arranged for folding movement from generally horizontal coplanarextended relation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to vertically overlappingside-by-side relation as shown in FIG. 4. A hingement designatedgenerally at 15 pivotally connects adjacent ends of the table sectionsand` has direct positive engagement with a center leg structure 16 tomaintain the center leg vertially and in equiangular relation withrespect to both table sections during all positions of folding movementthereof.

The inner table section 13 has a support leg structure 13L pivotallymounted thereto for swinging movement about a transverse axis adjacentbut spaced from the inner end thereof. The outer table section 14correspondingly has a leg structure 14L pivotally mounted thereto forrotation about a transverse axis 14A adjacent but spaced from its outerend. A brace 13 pivotally connects from the center leg structure 16 tothe leg structure 13L of the inner table section 13 and a brace 19pivotally connects from the center leg structure 16 to the leg structure14L of the outer table section 14.

Latching facilities are designated generally at 20 in FIG. l and arelocated underneath the inner end of the inner table section 13 toestablish sliding engagement with the vertical tracks T provided alongthe sides of the cabinet 11. As is usual, a lock type actuator isprovided iiush with the table surface and controls the latchingfacilities 20 either to project them outwardly into guided engagementwith the tracks T or to retract themwhen the table l@ is to bedisconnected from its cabinet 11 and moved to another location.

The lower end of each track T serves as a rest pivot for thecorresponding projecting end 20E of the latching facilities Ztl. In theintermediate folded position of FIG. 3, the latch ends 20E have engagedthe rest pivots and enabled the inner lap to be lifted off the ground.

In accordance with this invention, simplified hingement mechanism 15 isprovided for affording positive control over the relative angularpositionsiof the table sections 13 and 14 with respect to the center legstructure 16. The center leg structure 16 is at all times maintainedvertically oriented and located along a line that bisects the totalangle defined by the table sections 13 and 14. For this purpose thecenter leg structure 16 includes 4a pair of transversely spaced uprights16U each equipped with a double hingement mechanism 15. In the preferredform, the hingement mechanisms 15 are located along the lengthwiseextending marginal edges of the table. Each hingement includes astationary bracket 21 affixed to the upper end of the correspondingupright and rotatably engaging cooperating gear segments 24 and 27. Thebracket 21 as shown herein is in the form of a generally triangularplate structure having apertured corner portions projecting in oppositelengthwise directions to provide horizontal openings 22 and 23 offsetlengthwise from the center line of the table. The inner table section 13Vhas a gear segment 24 rigidly mounted at each of its outer end cornerregions and provided with an opening 25 vfor alignment with thecorresponding opening 22 of the bracket to receive a pivot bolt 26 Vthatconnects the parts for relative swinging movement about a transverseaxis defined by the bolt. Correspondingly, the outer table section 14has a gear segment 27 rigid with each of its inner end corners andprovided with an opening 2S for registery with the corresponding opening23 of Vthe bracket, with a vpivot` bolt 29 connecting these parts forrelative pivoting movement about a transverse axis defined by the bolt29. Y

Each segment 24 on the inner table section has a set of gear teeth 24Tarranged on a sector having a E circular periphery that curves about thepivot axis of the bolt 26 as its center. Correspondingly, each segment27 on the outer table section 14- has gear teeth 27T arranged on asector having a circular periphery curving about the pivot axis of bolt29 as a center. The

pitch radius for the gear teeth of each segment is substantially equaland corresponds to approximately onehalf of the vdistance between thepivot axes of the bolts 26 and 29. Gear segments are not identical asthe teeth 24T on the gear segment for the inner table section 13 areoff-set approximately one-half the circular pitch relative to the gearteeth 27T on the cooperating gear segment of the outer table section. Y

Thus the teeth of the ysegments 24 and 27 mesh in positive engagementand interact through the bracket 21 for positively controlling foldingmovement of each table section relative kto the center leg structure 16so as to maintain equal angles between each table section and the centerleg structure.V

When the table sections 13 and 14 are disposed in horizontally extendedrelation, the center leg structure, being a bisectoris disposedvertically. The leg structures 1.3L and ML are also Vertical at thistime and the braces 18 and 19 act to hold these structures parallel withthev center leg structure 16 so that all of the legs remain vertical atall positions of folding movement of the table. This affords a stablesupport for the table at all positions of movement and prevents theweight of the table from at any time acting to collapse the legs thatsupport it. f i

In the tab-le arrangement disclosed herein, the adjacent ends of thetable sections are spaced suiiiciently to provide a clearance space forpreventing any possible damage to the fingers of persons handling thetable.

The table sections 13 and 14 are of equal length to promote eflicientuse of storage space and yet the leg strucyture 13L supporting the innertable section 13 is enabled to lift above the ground during foldingmovement of the table as provided by locating the leg structure 13L at agreater distance from the free or inner end of its table section thanthe distance provided between the leg structureML for the outer'tablesection and the free or outer end of the outer table section. Slightelevation of the leg structure 1.3L for the inner section facilitatesentry of the table into its recess and assures establishing a squarerelationship' of the folded table within its recess. Positive mechanicalsupport of the latch endsV E on the lower ends of the tracksT removesthe weight load of the Vtable from the leg mounted wheels W which areusually of rubber and thus distort so as to impair the desiredsquareness of the table relative to the recess.v f

Finally, when the table is folded into fully recessed krelation withinits storing cabinet, as illustrated in FIG.

4, a bolt 3i) is projected upwardly into a keeper recess' 31 provided inthe roof of the cabinet 11 for retaining the table against accidentalrelease. An operating mechanism for the bolt is designatedv generally at32 in FIG.

l and may be controlled by a lock structure 3.3 located in flushrelation with the table surface of the outer table section 14.

It shouldbe understood that the description of the preferred form of theinvention is for the purpose of complying with Section 112, Title 35, ofthe U.S. Code and that the` appended claims should be construed asbroadly as the prior art will permit.

What is claimed is:

l. In a folding table that includes aV pair of top sections; pivot meansconnecting said sections for folding movement from coplanar extendedrelation toVside-byside overlapping relation, a first legstructurepivoted )to one ofrsaid sections in lengthwise spaced relation to saidpivotrmeans, a 'second leg structure pivoted to the other section inlengthwise spaced relation to said pivot .meanaa-Ycenter leg structureconnected Vto said pivot sections and mounted vtofrotate about atransverse axis through the said portion adjacentthereto, said rstsegment having gear teeth along a circular periphery curving about saidaxis as a center and adjacent to and facing the other table section, asecond segment anchored to the other table section and mounted to rotateabout a transverse axis through the said portion adjacent thereto, saidsecond segment having gear teeth along a circular periphery curvingabout the last-named axis as a center and adjacent to and meshing withthe first-named gear teeth to maintain said table sections at equalrelative angles to said center leg structure during folding movementthereof.

2. In a folding table that includes a pair of top sections; pivot meansconnecting said sections for folding movement from coplanar extendedrelation to side-byside overlapping relation, a first leg structurepivoted to one of said sections in lengthwise spaced relation to saidpivot means, a second leg structure pivoted to the other section inlengthwise spaced relation to said pivot `means, a center leg structureconnected to said pivot means, a first brace pivotally connected betweensaid rst leg structure and said center leg structure, and a second bracepivotally connected between said second leg structure and said centerleg structure, the improvement wherein said pivot means comprises aseparate double hingement at each side of the table and each includingplate structure rigid with said center leg structure and havinglengthwise spaced portions underlying adjacent corner edges of saidtable'sections, a first segment anchored to one of said sections andmounted to rotate about a first common transverse axis through the saidportion adjacent thereto, said first segment having gear teeth along acircular periphery curving about said vaxis as a center and adjacent toand facing the other table section, a second segment anchored to theother table section and mounted to rotate about a second commontransverse axis through the said portion adjacent thereto, said secondsegment having gear teeth along a circular periphery curving about thelast-named axis as a center and adjacent to and meshing with thefirstnamedv gear teeth to maintain said table sections at equal relativeangles to said center leg structure during folding movement thereof.

3. In a folding table transversely divided substantially midway betweenits ends to provide outer and inner table sections, said sectionsbeinghinged together for folding into an inverted if-shape4 and saidtable including in unfoldedr position downwardly extending, pivotallyconnected, outer, center, and inner leg structures, the combinationcomprising: a lirst brace pivotally connected between said outer legstructure and said center leg structure, asecond brace pivotallyconnected between said lnner leg structure and said Ycenter legstructure, a plate structure rigid with said center leg structure andhaving lengthwise spaced portions underlying adjacent edges of saidtable sect-ions, a firstsegment anchored to the inner table section andmounted on said plate structure for rotation about a transverse axisthrough the Ysaid portion adjacent thereto, Vand a second segmentanchored to the outer table section and mounted on said plate structurefor rotation about a transverse axis through the said portion adjacentthereto, each segment having gearteeth on a portion of the peripherythereof that curves about the transverseaxis thereof as a center, withsaid gear teeth intermeshin'g to positively control folding movement ofsaid table sections about said axes and maintain said Vcenter legstructure at equal angles relative to each table section and, by theaction of said braces, to maintain said outer leg structure and saidinner leg structure generally parallel to said center leg structure. Y

4. In a folding table transversely divided substantially midway betweenits ends to provide outer and inner table sections, said sections beinghinged together` for folding into an inverted Vshape and said tableincluding in unfolded position downwardly extending, pivotallyconnected, outer, center, and inner leg structures, thecombination'comprising: a first brace pivotally connected between saidouter leg structure and said center leg structure, a second bracepivotally connected between said inner leg structure and said center legstructure, transe versely spaced plate structures each rigid with saidcenter leg structure and having lengthwise spaced portions underlyingadjacent corner edges of said table sections, a pair of first segmentseach anchored to a separate lengthwiserextending marginal edge of theinner table section and mounted on the corresponding plate structure forrotation about a common transverse axis through the said plate structureportions adjacent thereto, and a pair of second segments each anchoredto a separate lengthwise extending marginal edge of the outer tablesection and mounted on the corresponding plate structure for rotationabout a common transverse axis through the said plate structure portionsadjacent thereto, said segments each having gear teeth on a portion ofthe periphery thereof, with said gear teeth of each first segment in-ytermeshing with the gear teeth of a second segment to positively controlfolding movement of said table sections about said axes and maintainsaid center leg structure at equal angles relative to each table sectionand, by the action of said braces, to maintain said outer leg structureand said inner leg structure generally parallel t0 said center legstructure.

5. In the combination of a folding table and a wall mounting recesshaving a pair of spaced, opposing, generally vertical tracks; saidfolding table including a pair of top sections, pivot means connectingsaid sections for folding movement from coplanar extended relation toside-bysside overlapping relation, a first leg structure pivoted to oneof said sections in lengthwise spaced relation to saidrpivot means, asecond leg structure pivoted to the other section .in lengthwise spacedrelation to said pivot means, a center leg structure connected to saidpivot means, a first brace pivotally connected between said irst legstructure and said center leg structure, and a second brace pivotallyconnected between said second leg structure and said center legstructure, the improvement wherein said pivot means comprises platestructure rigid with said center leg structure andV having lengthwisespaced portions underlying adjacent edges of said table sections, afirst segment anchored to one of said sections and mounted to rotateabout a transverse axis through the said portion adjacent thereto, saidiirst segment having gear teeth along a circular periphery curving aboutsaid axis as a center and adjacent to and facing the other tablesection, a second segment anchored to the other table section andmounted to rotate about a transverse axis through the said portionadjacent thereto, said second segment having gear teeth along a circularperiphery curving about the last-named axis as a center and adjacent toand facing the first-named gear teeth to mesh therewith and maintainsaid table sections at equal relative angles to said center legstructure during folding movement thereof, and means on one of saidsections for slidable engagement with said tracks.

6. 1n the combination of a folding table and a wall mounting recesshavinga pair of spaced, opposing, generally vertical tracks; saidfolding table including ra pair of top sections, pivoted meansconnecting said sections for folding vmovement from coplanar extendedrelation to side-by-side overlapping relation, a rst leg structurepivoted to one of said sections in lengthwise spaced relation to saidpivot means, a second leg structure pivoted to the other section inlengthwise spaced relation to said pivot means, a center leg structureconnected to said pivot eans, a rst brace pivotallyV connected betweensaid first leg structure and said center leg structure, and a secondbrace pivotaliy connected between said second leg structure and saidcenter leg structure, the improvement wherein said pivot means comprisesa separate double hingement at each side of the table and each includingplate structure rigid with said center leg structure and havinglengthwise spaced portions underlying adjacent corner edges of saidtable section, a rst segment anchored to one of said sections andmounted to rotate about a first common transverse axis through the saidportion adjacent'l thereto, said first segment having l gear teeth alonga circular periphery curving about said axis as a center and adjacent toand facing the other table section, a second segment anchored to theother table section and mounted to rotate about a second commontransverse axis through the said portion adjacent thereto, said secondsegment havinggear teeth along a circular periphery curving about thelastenamed axis as a center and adjacent to and facing the first-namedgear teeth to mesh therewith and maintain said table sections at equalrelative angles to said center leg structure during folding movementthereof, and means on one end of said sections for engagement with saidtracks.

References Ctedrhy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 291,952 l/84Stevens 297-*132 X 653,992 7/00 Fleck 312-l40.1 2,203,394 6/ 40 Schieber10d-38 2,650,146 8/53 Mugler 108-38 2,699,978 1/'55 Mugler 10S-1132,739,860 3/56 Wilson 108-113 2,777,742 1/57 Schieber 108-113 2,807,5129/57 Blink 10S-38 2,811,400 10/57 lamer 108-38 2,831,740 4/58 Schieber10S-113 2,909,399 10/59 Wasson et al 108-37 3,101,062 8/63 Kanzelberger108-37 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A FOLDING TABLE THAT INCLUDES A PAIR OF TOP SECTIONS; PIVOT MEANSCONNECTING SAID SECTIONS FOR FOLDING MOVEMENT FROM COPLANAR EXTENDEDRELATION TO SIDE-BYSIDE OVERLAPPING RELATION, A FIRST LEG STRUCTUREPIVOTED TO ONE OF SAID SECTIONS IN LENGTHWISE SPACED RELATION TO SAIDPIVOT MEANS, A SECOND LEG STRUCTURE PIVOTED TO THE OTHER SECTION INLENGTHWISE SPACED REALTION TO SAID PIVOT MEANS, A CENTER LEG STRUCTURECONNECTED TO SAID PIVOT MEANS, A FIRST BRACE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDPIVOT FIRST LEG STRUCTURE AND SAID CENTER LEG STRUCTURE, AND A SECONDBRACE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SECOND LEG STRUCTURE AND SAIDCENTER LEG STRUCTURE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID PIVOT MEANS COMPRISESPLATE STRUCTURE RIGID WITH SAID CENTER LEG STRUCTURE AND HAVINGLENGTHWISE SPACED PORTIONS UNDERLYING ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID TABLESECTIONS, A FIRST SEGMENT ANCHORED TO ONE OF SAID